PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

December 2, 2004

After a fruitful meeting with representatives of numerous state agencies on September 30, the Waitsburg Community Revitalization Committee reported to the Waitsburg City Council about the crucial next step in the process: increased involvement and commitment to the City of Waitsburg. "At this point, funding sources want to see increased city participation," said Ross Hamann, chairman of the committee, which has received a $100,000 commitment from the Port of Walla Walla for a $600,000 streetscape makeover.

If you missed a chance to "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," you've got another as the Touchet Valley Arts Council production of "Kiss Me Kate" comes to the Waitsburg High School Auditorium stage this Friday, December 3, at 7 p.m.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

November 30, 1989

Michelle Long is happy to be back in Waitsburg after completing her Law Enforcement Academy on the coast. She said 39 persons began the school, and only 26 of them graduated. She said the physical training was difficult, especially when one has been away from gym class for a number of years.

Roland Erikson and his sons Ellis and Adam and friend, Sean Mathews, contacted the Corps of Engineers last summer after they found some interesting items near the Snake River during low water. . . Found were more than 2,000 glass beads of various sizes, some items of cloth, buttons, fish hooks, a rifle butt plate, various hardware items (screws, bolts and nuts), some horse tack, machine parts, domestic items (coffee pot, a bottle) and tools (trowel, hammer and other items).

Fifty Years Ago

November 27, 1964

Several of the members of the Waitsburg Lions Club were quite interested in the neat packages which the Green Giant Company plant in Formosa were using for their Mushrooms. Howard Smith was heard to remark that if we had that kind of mushroom packaging in the U. S., he predicted an unprecedented rise in the sale of mushrooms.

Tom Deering, superintendent of schools at Issaquah, Wash. and formerly superintendent at Waitsburg, has been chosen as one of 27 high school superintendents in the United States to make a tour of Europe to study the school systems in force there.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

December 1, 1939

Miss Beatrice Wisdom and Allen Smith Jr. were married Nov. 25 at 10 o'clock. Dr. R. C. Hill, dentists and family left the first of the week for Cheney where they will make their home.

Jay Benn, the son of the late Lillian Benn and a nephew of Cleve and Cliff Houtchens, arrived Wednesday for a short visit with Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Houtchens. Jay who is a rural mail carrier in a small town in South Dakota has not been back to the old home town in 15 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Singer entertained at a family dinner Thanksgiving day. There were covers placed for eighteen at the long table.

Mr. and Mrs. Will Harris, Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Will Hawks, and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Vaughn of Dayton were all dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. James Archer at Walla Walla Sunday.

One Hundred Years Ago

November 27, 1914

Between 4000 and 5000 rabbits were killed by over 200 sportsmen near Burbank Sunday, 500 of the bunnies being taken to Walla Walla to be distributed there. The convicts were given a large number and the Salvation Army received others. Among those who drove down last Sunday were Harvey Stonecipher and son James, Hans Clodius, L. L. Weller, J. E. Butler, Ed Butler, R. H. McKenzie, A. C. Garner, Jack Hayes and R. R. Rinehart.

A deed has been issued to the Catholic Bishop of Nisqually to a lot at the corner to West Third and Bruce Streets. A force of carpenters are at work now removing the building on the lot and it is thought that a contract will be let immediately for the erection of a neat church.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

November 29, 1889

Silvester Rayburn has opened a blacksmith and general repair shop at Darting's old stand on the east side of Main Street.

Mrs. Carrie Payne is reported quite sick today. It is feared that she is attacked with the form of fever so prevalent in the city during the last few weeks.

Two young men of the Grampian Hills thought last Sunday a good day for a sleigh ride, and they started for Waitsburg. When about half way on their journey, the snow gave out and they were compelled to mount their horses or walk to town.

John Danielson informs us that there is fourteen inches of snow on Jasper Mountain, and that sleighing is good there.